ESSENTIAL AIMS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 68, 13 December 1939, Page 9

ESSENTIAL AIMS

Defeat Of Nazis Still In Forefront HELP FOR FINLAND ALSO URGED No Weakening Of Strategy While the tone of the British Press remains anti-Soviet, it is affirmed in many quarters that the real enemy is still Hitlerism. “The Times,” discussing action by the League Assembly, points out that there is much that can and must be done by other countries to help Finland. It would mean only a small diversion of British and French resources to ensure for Finland a triumph in the air. If Finland is to be saved, she must be saved now. The present war would come to a speedy end if the remaining League members decided to take up arms together, but, as “The Times” remarks, “This is an ideal of League action which is most unlikely to be reached.” The paper remarks that it would be foolish for the Allies to take any action that would -weaken the main strategic plan in the war against Germany. —By radio.

PEACE OFFENSIVE Report Of Berlin Move Not Confirmed LONDON, December IL In connexion with hints of a new German peace offensive, it is learned that reports of such a move are not confirmed in London, Geneva, or Berlin, but in Oslo, the Former Norwegian Prime Jlinister, M. Johan Mowinckel, has suggested that neutral members of the League should urge Italy and the United States to summon a conference of belligerents, possibly at Rome, to seek a reconciliation on the basis of politico-economic and monetary cooperation. ' This presumably envisages British, French, German, Russian, and Finnish participation. [A report yesterday stated: “Germany will seek to launch another peace offensive during the League meeting, states ‘Le Journal,’ which publishes ‘with reserve’ a report that Herr Hitler is prepared to reconstitute Czechoslovakia without Sudetenland, restore Poland in the districts exclusively occupied by Poles,_ with white Ruthenia and East Galicia as buffer States and to hold, a plebiscite in Austria. Finally, At is suggested that the Allies join Herr Hitler in an anti-Bolshevik crusade. “Other Paris newspapers warn their readers not to listen to suggestions that Herr Hitler is less dangerous than JI. Stalin.”] ATTITUDE IN LONDON No Serious Attention (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, December IL Press reports from Geneva refer to rumours of new German peace feelers through neutral countries. Peace offensives, of which,this may well be an example, are a recognized feature of the Nazi technique, and no serious attention is paid here to the terms put forward in these reports. There is, in fact, no ambiguity as to the terms on which the Allied Governments would Lie prepared to consider peace proposals. On behalf of the British Government the war aims were clearly stated in the Foreign Secretary’s speech in the House of Commons on December 5.

On that occasion, Lord Halifax, adopting the words of JI. Daladier, said that Britain would be willing to stop the war when she could treat with a German Government whose signature could be trusted, when the wrongs done to smaller nations could be righted, and when security could be established. Proceeding, Lord Halifax said: "We desire that the people that have been deprived of their independence should recover their liberties. We desire to redeem the peoples of Europe from this constant I’eitr of German aggression. We desire Io safeguard our own freedom and security. We do not seek aggrandisement or to redraw the map in our own interests. Still less are we moved by a spirit of vengeance.” BAN ON FOREIGN CHARTER OF BELGIAN SHIPS The Belgian Government lias issued a decree forbidding Belgian ships to be chartered by foreigners.—By radio.